Emma Wilson
In Eastern traditions, foods are classified into three mental constitutions: sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. According to Ayurveda, a sattvic diet is a plant-based diet where food is divided into three yogic qualities or 'gunas'. Sattvic foods are fresh, light, and nourishing and support higher consciousness. Rajasic foods promote excitement, activity, and movement. Tamasic foods, on the other hand, increase inertia, confusion, and inner darkness. Mushrooms, being a fungus, are considered tamasic. They are believed to lack light and life force and are not typically included in yogic diets. However, some traditions, like the Hare Krishna diet, do include mushrooms, and they are widely used in Chinese medicine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet | Yogic, Ayurvedic, Sattvic |
| Nature | Fungus, not a vegetable |
| Effect on body | Stimulates lower organs and chakras |
| Effect on mind | Promotes base nature of man, increases inertia, confusion, and inner darkness |
| Energy | Decreases energy of the body |
| Consciousness | Does not elevate consciousness |
| Spirituality | Unfit for sacred food offerings |
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What You'll Learn
- Mushrooms are a fungus, not a vegetable, and grow without light
- They are believed to stimulate the lower chakras and organs
- They are considered to be tamasic, or dark, destructive, and unclean
- They are not included in the yogic diet or cooked in the bhakti-yoga tradition
- They are believed to cause harm to the mind and body, dulling consciousness
Mushrooms are a fungus, not a vegetable, and grow without light
Sattvic foods are fresh, light, and nourishing and support higher consciousness. Rajasic foods promote excitement, activity, and movement. In contrast, tamasic foods increase inertia, confusion, and inner darkness. They are considered to be harmful to both the mind and body, leading to a duller, less refined state of consciousness.
Mushrooms are considered tamasic because they lack light and life force, as they do not use chlorophyll to photosynthesize light like plants do. Instead, they use decomposing materials to grow. For these reasons, mushrooms are not typically included in the yogic diet or cooked in the ancient culinary bhakti-yoga tradition.
However, some people do consume mushrooms, and they are edible for devotees. The Chinese, for example, use mushrooms extensively in medicine. While they may not be cooked in some traditions, they can still be offered as food with real devotion.
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They are believed to stimulate the lower chakras and organs
Mushrooms are considered tamasic because they are believed to stimulate the lower chakras and organs. This belief is rooted in Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine that originated in India. According to Ayurveda, food can be classified into three categories: sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic.
Sattvic foods are fresh, light, and nourishing and are believed to support higher consciousness. Rajasic foods promote excitement, activity, and movement. Tamasic foods, on the other hand, are believed to increase inertia, confusion, and inner darkness. They are thought to have a detrimental effect on both the mind and body, leading to a duller and less refined state of consciousness.
Mushrooms are classified as tamasic because they are believed to stimulate the lower chakras and organs, promoting the base nature of man. This belief is especially prominent in the Yogic diet, which typically excludes onions, garlic, and mushrooms for this reason. The fungal nature of mushrooms is often cited as a reason for their exclusion from yogic diets, as they are believed to lack the light and life force present in other foods.
However, it is important to note that not all traditions consider mushrooms to be tamasic. For example, some followers of the Hare Krishna diet do consume mushrooms, and they are also used profusely in classic Buddhist vegetarian diets. Additionally, some sources argue that mushrooms are not truly tamasic, highlighting their importance in human cultures and their potential medicinal properties.
In conclusion, the belief that mushrooms are tamasic is based on the idea that they stimulate the lower chakras and organs, leading to a duller state of consciousness. While this belief is prevalent in some traditions, it is not universally accepted, and there are differing opinions on the nature and effects of consuming mushrooms.
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They are considered to be tamasic, or dark, destructive, and unclean
Mushrooms are considered tamasic because they are a fungus, and they use decomposing materials to grow. They are believed to be dark, destructive, and unclean because they lack light and life force, and they stimulate the lower organs and chakras of the body, promoting the base nature of man. According to Ayurveda, sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic foods consist of some combination of the five basic elements: prithvi (earth), jala (water), teja (fire), vayu (air), and akash (ether).
In the yogic diet, foods that are considered tamasic are believed to be harmful to both the mind and body. Consumption of tamasic foods is thought to lead to a duller, less refined state of consciousness and can cause detrimental stress to any physical organ, directly or indirectly, through any physical imbalance. Tamasic foods are also associated with inertia, confusion, and inner darkness. They are believed to increase inertia and confusion and are considered "dark" and "destructive" because they can lead to a state of inner darkness and confusion, where individuals may feel lost and unable to find clarity or direction.
In Eastern traditions, tamasic foods such as mushrooms are believed to have a different effect on the body and mind compared to Western medicine. Classical Ayurveda teaches that mushrooms are tamasic, and in the ancient culinary bhakti-yoga tradition, mushrooms are not cooked. No Vishnu, Krishna, or Rama (Vaishnavite) temple kitchen will ever prepare them. They are considered unfit foods for sacred food offerings due to their fungal nature. However, some devotees do consume mushrooms, and they are considered edible according to some sources.
While mushrooms are considered tamasic, it is important to note that not all tamasic foods are necessarily harmful. In fact, tamasic foods can be consumed to balance an excess of rajas. Additionally, even sattvic foods can become rajasic or tamasic depending on freshness and preparation methods. Therefore, it is essential to have a mix of all three energies and states of mind, depending on what is needed. For example, tamas can be useful for ending a plan when a goal has been reached.
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They are not included in the yogic diet or cooked in the bhakti-yoga tradition
Mushrooms are considered tamasic in the yogic diet because they are believed to be foods touched by the lower modes of ignorance. They are a fungus and are believed to lack the light and life force that other plants have. They are also believed to stimulate the lower organs and chakras of the body, promoting the base nature of man.
The yogic diet is based on the three qualities or attributes of food, known as gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas. A sattvic diet is considered pure, natural, vital, clean, conscious, true, and wise. It includes foods that are fresh, light, and nourishing and supports a higher consciousness. Rajasic foods promote excitement, activity, and movement. Tamasic foods, on the other hand, increase inertia, confusion, and inner darkness. They are considered dark, destructive, and ignorant.
Since mushrooms are considered tamasic, they are not included in the yogic diet. This is because a sattvic diet, which is considered the ideal yogic diet, aims to include foods that are pure, natural, and vital. Tamasic foods like mushrooms are believed to decrease the energy of the body and dull the consciousness, which is counter to the goals of yoga.
In addition, the bhakti-yoga tradition, which is a specific type of yoga that involves devotion and offering, also does not cook with mushrooms. This is because mushrooms are considered unfit foods to prepare in sacred food offerings due to their fungal nature. While some devotees may occasionally eat mushrooms, they are not considered acceptable for temple offerings.
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They are believed to cause harm to the mind and body, dulling consciousness
According to Yoga, tamasic foods are those whose consumption is believed to be harmful to both the mind and body. They are thought to cause harm by dulling consciousness and causing detrimental stress to physical organs, either directly or indirectly.
Mushrooms are considered tamasic in the ancient culinary bhakti-yoga tradition. This is because they are a fungus and are believed to lack a life force. They are also thought to stimulate the lower organs and chakras of the body, promoting the base nature of man.
In contrast, sattvic foods are considered to be fresh, light, and nourishing, supporting higher consciousness. They are described as having qualities such as "pure, essential, natural, vital, energy-containing, clean, conscious, true, honest, and wise".
It is important to note that the concept of tamasic and sattvic foods is based on the traditional Ayurvedic system, which categorizes food according to its qualities and effects on the body and mind. This may differ from the understanding of nutrition in Western medicine.
Some people choose to avoid mushrooms due to their classification as tamasic, while others may consume them occasionally or include them regularly in their diet. It is a personal choice that depends on one's cultural and spiritual beliefs, as well as their understanding of the potential benefits and risks associated with consuming mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are considered tamasic because they are a fungus and are believed to lack light and life force.
Tamasic foods are those that increase inertia, confusion, and inner darkness. They are believed to be harmful to both the mind and body.
Examples of tamasic foods include fast food, alcohol, pork, shellfish, soy beans, onions, garlic, and mushrooms.
A sattvic diet is a type of plant-based diet within Ayurveda that focuses on fresh, light, and nourishing foods that support higher consciousness. Examples of sattvic foods include fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains.
Some people avoid eating mushrooms because they believe it will help them achieve a higher state of consciousness. Others may avoid them due to their cultural or religious beliefs.
